Woolston ’s First Match

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31831, 8 November 1968, Page 13

Woolston ’s First Match

Woolston, winner of the Canterbury senior men’s tennis grade for three years in succession to 1965-66, will have its first fixture in this season’s competition tomorrow.

After a bye in the first round, It will meet Elmwood in the second. Elmwood, which was low at the finish last season, surprised last Saturday by taking the title-holder, North Linwood, to a games decision, 68-60.

The draw for tomorrow, with points gained in the first round in parenthesis, Is:—— North Linwood (13) v. Edgeware (2); Beckenham (14) v.

Linwood Avenue (2); Elmwood (3) v. Woolston (6), United (14) has the bye. Beckenham and North Linwood are both favoured to win again, Beckenham especially, because the Linwood Avenue team, which finished second last season, has lost its top player, B. Leach. However, the singles between Canterbury’s top man, J. W. Mitchell (Beckenham), and I. Stanton (Linwood Avenue) may be a testing one. Stanton has already this season comfortably beaten two leading men—R. McCutcheon top for United and ranked third to Stanton's ninth at the end of last season—in last Saturday's club round, and w; Thom—top for Elmwood and ranked seventh—in a midweek ranking match. At the same time Mitchell

has been in grand form with wins in the Otago labour Day week-end tournament, and over p. Boatwood (Edgeware) in a club match and McCutcheon at ranking.

Other top singles will be between J. Martin (North Linwood) and Boatwood, and B. Aldridge (Woolston) and Thom.

The women’s competition will mark the debut of North Lipwood in the grade. It had the bye in the first round and has not been in the competition for many years.

The draw for the second round is:—Edgeware (16) v. Beckenham (0); North Linwood (0) v. Shirley (0); Elmwood (15) has the bye. Winner of the grade for the last two seasons. Edgeware will probably be too strong for Beckenham.